A study shows that India’s solar waste could reach 600 kilotons by 2030.
According to a new study released March 20, India’s solar waste could reach 600 kilotons by 2030, the equivalent of filling 720 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The study is released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the independent think tank Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), titled “Enabling a Circular Economy in India’s Solar Industry: Assessing the Solar Waste Quantum.”
The study said that about 67% of this waste will come from five states: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Currently, India’s installed capacity of 66.7 GW (by FY 2023) has already generated about 100 kilotonnes of waste, which will increase to 340 kilotonnes by 2030.
This will include about 10 kilotonnes of silicon, 12-18 tonnes of silver, and 16 tonnes of cadmium and tellurium, most of which are important minerals for India.
Recycling solar waste to recover these materials will reduce import dependence and increase India’s mineral security.
The study said solar waste will increase to about 19,000 kilotonnes by 2050, of which 77% will be generated from new capacities.
